Master Minds

By Third Flatiron Publishing

It's Question Time: What is intelligence, anyway? Who has it? Who wants it? Can humans recognize it in other species? Come the Singularity, will humans survive? Is survival only for the fittest? What will newly sentient creations want to do first? Can we love machines, and can they love us back? Could the 'Mozart effect' of music transform us? Are the super-intelligent more likely to be tormented by issues like happiness and the meaning of life?

Third Flatiron Anthologies presents "Master Minds," a new collection of science fiction/fantasy/horror short stories that consider the different meanings of intelligence.

New and established speculative fiction writers offer a mind-boosting exploration of sentience and sapience. Contributors include Cherith Baldry, Lela E. Buis, Martin Clark, Ellen Denton, Robin Wyatt Dunn, William Huggins, Elliotte Rusty Harold, Jason Lairamore, Vince Liberato, Patrick McCarty, Russell Nichols, Konstantine Paradias, and NM Whitley.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Third Flatiron Publishing
• Release date: Jun 8, 2014
• ISBN: 9781311762399

Third Flatiron Publishing

Juli Rew is a former science writer/editor for the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Boulder, Colorado, and is a software engineer by training. She is a believer in the scientific evidence for global warming. She also publishes fantasy and science fiction stories by other authors at Third Flatiron Publishing.

Book preview

Master Minds

Third Flatiron Anthologies

Volume 3, Summer 2014

Published by Third Flatiron Publishing

Juliana Rew, Editor

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2014 Third Flatiron Publishing

Boulder, Colorado

Discover other titles by Third Flatiron at Smashwords.com:

(1) Over the Brink: Tales of Environmental Disaster - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/163855

(2) A High Shrill Thump: War Stories - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/218304

(3) Origins: Colliding Causalities -

https:// www.smashwords.com/books/view/257367

(4) Universe Horribilis -

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/288540

(5) Playing with Fire -

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/321325

(6) Lost Worlds, Retraced

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/351622

(7) Redshifted: Martian Stories

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/381618

(8) Astronomical Odds

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/417022

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of these authors.

*****~~~~~*****

Table of Contents

Editor's Note by Juliana Rew

The Abstract Heart by Martin Clark

Oi, Robot! by Konstantine Paradias

I Scream Man by William Huggins

The Frankenstein Project by Ellen Denton

Survival by Jason Lairamore

Broken Toys in a Big Backyard by Vince Liberato

Hacking 'Wilkes-Barre PA, May 2001' by NM Whitley

The Cabin by Lela E. Buis

In Mrs. Timmet's Class by Patrick McCarty

Watching the Skies by Robin Wyatt Dunn

Music of the Mind by Cherith Baldry

The Right Books by Elliotte Rusty Harold

Schadenfreude by Russell Nichols

Photo and Art Credits and Acknowledgments

*****~~~~~*****

Editor's Note

by Juliana Rew

Third Flatiron's ninth quarterly anthology might be considered one of our darker collections.

We asked for stories on the theme of Intelligence, knowing there are many kinds but fully expecting to receive a preponderance of tales about the perils of artificial intelligence.

We hear constantly about the rise of the machines, especially after science fiction cinema classics such as 2001: A Space Odyssey and The Terminator and more recent masterpieces such as her. The Singularity as envisioned by computer scientists John von Neumann and Vernor Vinge have inspired speculative futures by many greats, including Charles Stross and David Brin. As you might expect, Master Minds presents some new twists on AIs that outgrow their need for humanity and then move on. We also see others that decide to try to improve us and even some that decide to care for us, even though we may not deserve it.

But machine intelligence is not the only kind of intelligence. I'm especially fond of uplift stories, such as Cordwainer Smith's The Ballad of Lost C'Mell. We've included a number of inspiring, and sometimes heartbreaking, stories about our non-human friends.

So, in the midst of all the clouds, we see rays of hope, love, and humor managing to poke through in spots. Master Minds proudly showcases an international group of new and established speculative fiction authors who know a thing or two about what it means to comprehend.

*****~~~~~*****

The Abstract Heart

by Martin Clark

Look upon my works, ye Mighty, and despair!

I paced to and fro on the empty Metro platform, my impatience on fast-forward. Fairview was a wealthy, gated community, so only security personnel and domestic staff used the transit authority, and none at that hour of the evening. The next scheduled service was on time, but my nervous excitement had slowed relativity to a crawl.

My phone rang, the tone indicating my employer. I shifted the call to my audio-visual implants, shutting out the real world. The red-on-grey 'Anderson Industries' logo flared, then dissolved into a virtual reality representation of the situation room. Technician Brandt stood out in Ultra-Reality relief against the stark functionality of our surroundings.

Despite his being my junior, his manner was curt, almost perfunctory. You're running a program in deep core, but there's nothing logged. This is a courtesy call before I purge the system and inform Director Hahn.

Don't you dare! I snapped at him, then forced my features into a semblance of a smile. "Sorry, it's just one of my pet projects, a compression algorithm for emergency upload situations. The overall performance hit is negligible, and you know how the Director gives me considerable leeway. After all, I am chief developer."

That final jibe reduced Brandt's mouth to a thin line. My previous pet projects had secured Hahn's reputation within the corporation, making me virtually fireproof. Brandt merely nodded, then dissolved from view. Unlike the Cheshire Cat, he left nothing behind, not even a scowl.

I shivered and wiped my mouth with a hand that trembled. To my mind, the Ultra-Reality interface went too far, but at present it was a necessary evil. Although I hadn't planned on visiting my creation until later, there seemed little point in postponing things. I side-stepped to my personal virtual work space and accessed 'Suite 101,' a partial recreation of the Kaiser Wilhelm Hotel in Bonn. It had been online for almost three weeks by that point, but Brandt was the first to notice.

Discontinuity.

I blinked. The room was plush, if not extravagant. The heavy curtains were always closed, but it was probably early morning outside, given the lack of traffic noise. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of the woman curled up on the sofa, watching the financial news. She didn't look up. I really wish you'd find some way to knock, Matthew. One of these days I might have company.

I stood there, feeling awkward. Ah, sorry. So, how are you?

Bored.

Well, so, how's your portfolio?

Her gaze flicked towards me then back to the Far Eastern markets. Flourishing, but I could do with more than chump change to work with.

I'm sorry, that's all I have, everything.

She snorted. You could give me access to your departmental budget. With that I could double my investment and replace the principle before your accountancy systems so much as blinked.

I wiped my forehead, feeling uncomfortable. I'm sorry, Rosa, but like I said, I don't—

Have the balls? Rosa flicked back her hair. Why are you here? This isn't one of your scheduled fuck visits.

Her crudity made me colour up with embarrassment, but I was also excited by her directness. If I'm being honest, part of her appeal was my hold over her. Rosamund Hartz had been a corporate executive who'd died in an air crash, but she was valued enough that her former employers still wanted her input and opinion. That's what I did—I created nonsentient expert systems that could accurately mimic the reactions and responses of the deceased.

I'd learned just about everything there was to know about Rosa and extrapolated her behavioural imperatives, fleshed out with recreated events and typical life experiences—memories, if you will. I'd fashioned her past, and it now felt like I'd been part of it.

Rosa was intelligent, strong-willed, and ambitious. It took less than a week for me to fall hopelessly in love with her.

When the time came to download my creation, I couldn't give her up. Instead, I grafted the beta version onto a secondary corporate AI to create an idoru, a virtual intelligence. Since then the term high maintenance had taken on an entirely new meaning.

I cleared my throat. I'm heading into the city, into The Quarter, and, ah, I thought you might like to watch.

Rosa laughed, a cruel edge to her voice. You do realize that vicarious sex isn't exactly my idea of a night out on the town?

But you'll come? I might get lucky. . .

Oh, I'll tag along. As you say, you might find someone interesting.

I smiled.

Discontinuity.

The empty two-car train pulled into the Metro station. I boarded and sat down, switching my phone into pre-paid cellular mode—anonymous and untraceable. My fingers trembled as I dialled a number from memory.

Pleasant Company Expected, how may we be of service? The female voice was calm and professional but with a sultry undertone.

Hi, I'm visiting The Quarter this evening and would appreciate some convivial company.

Certainly, sir, and would you like your escort to be male, female, or transgender?

Oh, definitely female. Above average height, brunette, curvy, as curvy as they come, if you can swing that.

I'm sure we can satisfy your every requirement, sir. Now, as to personality?

Intelligent, independently minded, but not a domme or sub. I want someone who can hold a conversation.

I have the very girl in mind, sir—her name is Kerry. In terms of remuneration—

Whatever it costs for the full twelve-hour package. I forwarded the account details and a one-time authorisation code to the offshore hospitality account used by our senior executives. Although my occasional raids into this particular fund of depravity hadn't gone unnoticed, nobody wanted a full audit—particularly Director Hahn. The amount extracted made the woman's voice warm towards me.

Thank you, sir, and you can be assured of our complete discretion in this matter. Of course all our escorts are free from any form of recording device and incorporate contact DNA neutralization as standard.

Outstanding. Now, I was thinking of Casa Gaudi, say around eight?

An excellent choice, sir, if I may say so. Kerry will meet you in the lounge bar.

Right, got that, and thank you.

No, sir, thank you, and I sincerely hope you enjoy everything this evening has to offer.

I hung up and purged the call history. The train door beeped and closed. Background music was courtesy of Retro FM, so I was treated to the sound of vintage Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers as we slid out of the station.

. . . He was workin' on something big.

...

By day I found the Modernist décor of Casa Gaudi somewhat unsettling. The whole 'dreams in stone' backdrop made my skin crawl, but at night, with only table-top lamps by way of illumination, its neo-organic fervour seemed to suit Latin American music to a tee. Even from across the room I spotted my date for the evening: hair by Titian, body by Rubens. Kerry had a mane of auburn curls cascading down her back, strong features, and heavy curves verging on the voluptuous. She sat on a bar stool, resplendent in a green velvet dress and